Trades that "move the needle"

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Ya but how far will it get us?

That's yet to be seen. Let the cake bake.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Larry Sanders would be a great pickup if the asking price isn't one of Lillard, LA, or Batum.

I'm thinking Larry is playing his way outside of Milwaukie asking for a lot. He looked HORRIFIC.

 

[Boob-No-More]

ESPN Trade Machine approved:

To Portland from New York

C. Anthony (SF)
I. Shumpert (SG)
Draft picks


To New York from Portland

N. Batum
W. Matthews
T. Robinson


We become contenders in the West for the next two years. Then we move Carmelo after his contract expires and free up over 20million a year. We also can move Aldridge and have a boatload to rebuild around Lillard.

Oh hell no! Melo has been surrounded by a shit load of talent for most of his career, yet in spite of being a so-called superstar and an 8-time all-star, he's had very little in the way of post season success. The whole Melo-drama bullshit when he wanted out of Denver basically held the Nuggets hostage for a year with his very specific trade demands. He's a self-centered prima dona, grossly overpaid and one of the last guys I'd ever want to add to a team that is playing well and has good chemistry. The only way he'll ever win a ring would be riding on someone else's coattails - if his ego will allow it.

Melo deserves the Knicks and the Knicks deserve Melo. It's a perfect fit.

BNM

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Team basketball > iso basketball

Damn .....I have to quote you again?

Do you boneheads not remember Pipen ..Sheed..The Rainman blah blah blah...fuck that < I will take guys that play well together

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Btw, what is up with Sanders this year?

Last year he was 1b with Hibbert as the best interior defender in the league to a guy who looks like Ekpe Udoh.

For reference:

He is a 'needle mover' when he wants to be.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well this might be why the Blazers haven't won a championship since 1977.

Carmelo has only been in the league for about 8 years or so.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Carmelo has only been in the league for about 8 years or so.

He's a 10-year vet.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Also needs to be said, Carmelo will never win a championship as a "building block" player. Selfish beyond belief on offense and couldn't give two shits about playing defense.

Do people around here not watch other basketball teams?

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's a 10-year vet.

Whatever. Still hasn't been in the league since 1977 then?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Also needs to be said, Carmelo will never win a championship as a "building block" player. Selfish beyond belief on offense and couldn't give two shits about playing defense.

Do people around here not watch other basketball teams?

Harden has turned into this player in Houston.

I much prefer the Manu Ginobli role he played in OKC.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Btw, what is up with Sanders this year?

Last year he was 1b with Hibbert as the best interior defender in the league to a guy who looks like Ekpe Udoh.

For reference:

He is a 'needle mover' when he wants to be.

Has to be injuries and just flat out being a knucklehead off the court. 17 minutes a night after getting a big pay day just don't look right considering he was a defensive beast last season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I wouldn't want want to mess with this team chemistry but hypothetically:

* Larry Sanders - legit rim protector. Move Lopez to the second unit.
* Ryan Anderson - 6th man, adds to our already awesome outside shooting.
* Healthy CJ - ^ see Ryan Anderson ^

I am really liking what Robinson is bringing this team. Ryan Anderson, although good, is more of what we have. I would rather give the minutes to Robinson and Joel.

As far as Sanders is concerned, I am looking forward to Wednesday's game. If he does not destroy our front line, then I don't want him.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I am really liking what Robinson is bringing this team. Ryan Anderson, although good, is more of what we have. I would rather give the minutes to Robinson and Joel.

As far as Sanders is concerned, I am looking forward to Wednesday's game. If he does not destroy our front line, then I don't want him.

Sanders is out for 6 weeks.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Sanders is out for 6 weeks.

Hmm not sure how I missed that. Thanks. Although I wanted to watch him, this does not totally bum me out.

 

[MAS RipCity]

1- Don't see the incentive for the Knicks here. If they want to move Melo, they'll be asking for young talent and picks, which we really don't have.

2- Melo brings offense. That's it. We don't need offense. We have plenty. What we need is a lock-down defender, preferably on the wing. And no Shump isn't worth it.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'd probably do it. Acquire as many all-stars in their prime is my general philosophy. You have to have a big swinging dick in the league to get ahead and this move does move that needle.

Carmello is an incredible offensive talent, one of the top scorers in the league, one of the most brandable players. Lillard-Mello-LA? I mean overall that's better right now than Miami's big 3 and with a great bench.

That is just stacked as fuck, and having Dorell Wright off the bench or for defensive purposes, we're all good. Sure, Nic is a great passer and Wes has the heart of a champion, but you just don't turn down top 5 players in the league for nothing. Can you imagine Lillard and LA with less ball pressure than they already have? Sure they'll get less touches but probably more quality ones.

Plus he's Team Jordan, yo.

The knicks are totally fucked, they need to cut their losses with the team they have and try to dump it all and hit the reset button.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I'd argue Melo is more Top 15 than Top 5

 

[Strenuus]

Larry Sanders had surgery a week or two ago. He's been out pretty much the whole time.

He broke it in an altercation at a bar, I believe.

 

[mook]

I have this hope that McCollum will look like Lillard-lite when he gets healthy and somehow we can parlay him into Asik. Adding Asik moves the needle significantly.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Move the needle? Are you fucking kidding me? How do you figure the needle ain't pegged after winning seven straight?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'd argue Melo is more Top 15 than Top 5

Perhaps. He's an elite player in the league still, despite how much the Knicks suck. All star. Olympian. Its a big ballsy move to do something like that and trade away great role players, but you always have to go for the all stars.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I have this hope that McCollum will look like Lillard-lite when he gets healthy and somehow we can parlay him into Asik. Adding Asik moves the needle significantly.

If McCollum looks like Lillard-lite then that alone moves the needle significantly.

 

[Draco]

Melo is almost as good as Cedric Ceballos in his prime, but with slightly worse defense. He is not a top20 NBA player right now. He's not even the best player on his own team. The Knicks were better when he was injured and Jeremy FUCKING Lin was running the show! If Melo had played in Minnesota his whole career instead of New York FUCKING City where every player is hyped like Telfair and Kenny Anderson; well Melo would be a black Wally Szscerbiak.

Hell no I don't want Melo on my Blazers team. I wank him on the Lakers or Knicks or Nets or whatever stupid team is mesmerized by big names.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If McCollum looks like Lillard-lite then that alone moves the needle significantly.

And I'd rather keep CJ -- Lillard-lite, as in a good shooter who is also a capable passer, is the perfect backcourt mate for Damian.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

We have a whole roster of role players, the only moves that will move the needle is to acquire allstars. We are one guy away from being a contender, look at the past 2-3 years of NBA allstars and pick one to get on the team and that's called moving the needle.

Yes, that includes Carmello Anthony. It either works or it doesn't, this team isn't finished evolving to a championship squad. I said it before, I'll say it again, this team reminds me of the pre-WCF team of the early 2000s, when we had all the danger, excitement, and balance. Just need to get that star power on the team to push us over the edge (move the needle). And that's not Omer Fucking Asik or Ryan Fucking Anderson.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Melo is almost as good as Cedric Ceballos in his prime, but with slightly worse defense. He is not a top20 NBA player right now. He's not even the best player on his own team. The Knicks were better when he was injured and Jeremy FUCKING Lin was running the show! If Melo had played in Minnesota his whole career instead of New York FUCKING City where every player is hyped like Telfair and Kenny Anderson; well Melo would be a black Wally Szscerbiak.

Hell no I don't want Melo on my Blazers team. I wank him on the Lakers or Knicks or Nets or whatever stupid team is mesmerized by big names.

Ya but he will always be an all star because of his big name and like it or not you need that especially in a small market city.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I wouldn't make any trades right now. Let them play. They are a nice team.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

We have a whole roster of role players, the only moves that will move the needle is to acquire allstars. We are one guy away from being a contender, look at the past 2-3 years of NBA allstars and pick one to get on the team and that's called moving the needle.

Yes, that includes Carmello Anthony. It either works or it doesn't, this team isn't finished evolving to a championship squad. I said it before, I'll say it again, this team reminds me of the pre-WCF team of the early 2000s, when we had all the danger, excitement, and balance. Just need to get that star power on the team to push us over the edge (move the needle). And that's not Omer Fucking Asik or Ryan Fucking Anderson.

You were like this a few years ago with Iggy -- you like stars that you really shouldn't build around.

If you want to go that rout, look at: .......

Damn, I drawing a blank. Nobody realistic really. We're not going to land a Paul George or a Kevin Love.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

You were like this a few years ago with Iggy -- you like stars that you really shouldn't build around.

If you want to go that rout, look at: .......

Damn, I drawing a blank. Nobody realistic really. We're not going to land a Paul George or a Kevin Love.

Few years ago was last summer when we were trying to argue whether or not to keep Batum. There are maybe 10-12 stars you can build around in the league.

Yes, all of them are all stars and when you're talking about moving the needle, they are the only ones who should be in the discussion. In absence of that, generally the train of thought is to try to acquire stars and build superteams versus tweaking very good teams with incremental upgrades over several years.

Iggy would be nice, he seems to fit quite well in Golden State when there are other good offensive options.

Like others, I'm happy with this team. But the question is, does this Trailblazer team, as constructed, compete for an NBA championship? Without acquiring a "move the needle" type player (i.e. allstar)? I'm not sure it does. Its a fun team to watch and we may have a good playoff run. But in a 7 game series you'll need that marquee player when the rest of the non-alpha players get afraid to shoot the ball.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Bottom line is right now no moves should be made. Honestly I think we have 4 all star level players in the west on our team right now in LA, Dame, Batum, and Wes. We also have a 6th MOY candidate in Mo. The only real players that are tradeable that makes sense for the team as currently constructed are Leonard, Barton, Crabbe, Claver, and MAYBE Freeland (would not like to move him at this point unless it were for a shot blocker). Those players aren't getting you much... Maybe a 2nd rounder and Ricky Davis' corpse.